Defending event champion Brent MacDougall of Nova Scotia, along with former World Junior Silver Medallist Brett Gallant, who was a quarter-finalist in last weekend’s Casino Lac Leamy Challenge in Gatineau Quebec, and two-time Canadian Mixed and eight-time PEI Tankard champion Robert Campbell are among the contenders in the 16 team field at this weekend’s second annual Gahan Brewery Cashspiel, which gets underway Friday afternoon, and wraps up on Sunday at the Montague Curling Club. This Atlantic Curling Tour (ACT) event features a double knockout draw with a consolation round.

In last year’s inaugural event, the MacDougall foursome beat PEI’s Kevin Champion rink by an 8-3 score in the final. MacDougall beat out PEI’s Eddie MacKenzie rink in semi-final play, while Champion defeated Charlottetown clubmate Rod MacDonald. MacKenzie, last year’s PEI Tankard winning skip, is playing third on the Gallant team this season, MacDonald who skipped PEI Tankard winning teams in 2005, 2006, 2009, and 2010 all with Champion at third, and played on his first Tankard-winning team back in 1978, is back again this year. On the up-and-coming side, PEI’s Sam Ramsay rink, quarter-finalists at the Codiac Maritime Junior Spiel held recently in Moncton, are entered.

Here is the opening draw for this year’s event:

Friday Oct 28 at 1 pm:

Team Suburu Halifax vs Donald Clarey, Brent MacDougall vs Rod MacDonald, Jamie Newson vs Brett Gallant, Tammy Dewar vs Bill Hope.

Friday Oct 28 at 3 pm:

Sam Ramsay vs Mike Gaudet, Rob Moore vs Chris Sutherland, Robert Campbell vs Steve Elder, Team Revolve vs Colton Steele.

Remaining qualifier draws go at 6 and 8 pm Friday, 11 am and 2, 5 and 8 pm Saturday.

The semi-finals go at 10 am Sunday, with the final at 1 pm.

Click for Draw (PDF)